SOUTH AFRICA's ruling African National Congress has rejected Nigerian claims that it is funding political groups trying to overthrow Gen Sani Abacha's military dictatorship.
The ANC's deputy general secretary, Ms Cheryl Carolus, described the claims yesterday as "a malicious attempt to project the legitimate efforts of the ANC to" promote the cause of democracy" in Nigeria as something altogether more sinister".
On Monday night Nigerian state television reported that President Mandela had donated two million rand (£400,000) to exiled members of Nigeria's National Democratic Council (NDC) at a meeting in Johannesburg. It also claimed the ANC was providing the NDC with free offices in South Africa.
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg yesterday, Ms Carolus flatly denied this, saying "We have not bankrolled them. We are not housing them." The ANC did have contacts with, many Nigerian opposition groups, however, and it would continue to help them in their legitimate campaign for democracy, she said.
"The ANC, together with local, Nigerian and other democratic forces internationally, will continue to campaign for effective measures that will achieve this objective," Ms Carolus said.
The ANC has also denied that Mr Mandela met members of the NDC, saying his meeting was with members of South Africa's Nigerian support group. The party said that it has still not abandoned the path of direct dialogue with Gen Abacha's government, and urged Nigeria to allow a Commonwealth delegation to visit and hold talks.
South Africa has been at the forefront of moves to isolate Nigeria's regime and impose sanctions ever since it executed Mr Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other activists in November last year.
Before the, executions Mr Mandela and his government were accused of taking too conciliatory a line on Nigeria, He had said dialogue and persuasion would have more effect on Gen Abacha than the threat of sanctions.